Dwarf-flowered heartleaf facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dwarf-flowered heartleaf |
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H. naniflora
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| Hexastylis naniflora H.L.Blomq.
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The Hexastylis naniflora is a special kind of flowering plant. People often call it the dwarf-flowered heartleaf because its flowers are small and its leaves are shaped like hearts. This plant is part of the birthwort family.
This plant is very rare! It only grows in a specific area of the United States called the Piedmont region. This small area is right on the border between North Carolina and South Carolina. Because it's so rare, the government has listed it as a threatened species. This means it needs protection to survive.
What the Dwarf-Flowered Heartleaf Looks Like
The dwarf-flowered heartleaf is a perennial herb. This means it lives for more than two years and doesn't have a woody stem like a tree. It grows from an underground stem called a rhizome. This rhizome helps the plant spread and form small patches on the ground.
- Leaves: The plant has evergreen leaves, which means they stay green all year long. They are thick and leathery, and each one is shaped like a heart. The plant usually grows only one new leaf each year.
- Flowers: Its flowers are fleshy and brown. They are shaped like a small jug. Sometimes, these unique flowers stay hidden under the leaf litter on the ground.
Where the Dwarf-Flowered Heartleaf Lives
This special plant likes to grow in forests where you can find oak, hickory, and pine trees. It usually prefers slopes near streams. The soil there is often moist and a bit acidic.
You might often find the dwarf-flowered heartleaf growing near or under a plant called Kalmia latifolia, also known as mountain-laurel. It also likes to be near certain types of oak trees, such as:
- Quercus coccinea (scarlet oak)
- Quercus montana (chestnut oak)
- Quercus velutina (black oak)
Why This Plant Needs Our Help
The dwarf-flowered heartleaf is known to grow in only eleven counties across southern North Carolina and northern South Carolina. Back in 2004, about 150 groups of these plants were found, but many of these groups were very small.
The biggest danger to this plant is that its home, or habitat, is being lost or damaged. Over time, many areas where this plant used to grow have been changed.
- Some land has been turned into farms, especially for growing peach orchards.
- Other areas have been developed into places where people live, like neighborhoods.
Even the places where the plant still grows are at risk. These threats include:
- Cattle grazing: Animals eating the plants.
- More farming.
- New homes and businesses being built.
- Cutting down trees for wood.
- Building ponds and lakes, which can change the water levels and soil.
Protecting these areas is very important to make sure the dwarf-flowered heartleaf can continue to grow and thrive for many years to come!
